Device for removing consumable analytic products from a storage container

• US 7,569,187 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Schabbach, Michael, Klemm, Thomas, Baumann, Rolf, Dilger, Meinrad, Miltner, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nagpaul; Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US10/263,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20030039584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 422/64, 422/99, 422/100, 422/58, 422/61, 422/93, 422/102, 436/46, 436/48, 436/164, 221/30, 221/79
• US Class Current: 422/64
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00039 Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A method and a device for removing an analytic consumable product, in particular a test element, from a storage container having chambers which are sealed by foils from which the consumable product is pushed out by means of a plunger (7) can be optimized in that the magnitude of the thrusting force exercised by the plunger (7) during its forward motion can be controlled in dependence on the plunger (7) position.

Claims

1. A device for removing a consumable analytic product from a storage container, the device comprising

a drive wheel,

a control element being coupled to and formed for rotation with the drive wheel,

a carrier member in engagement with and formed for axial movement along the control element, and

a plunger situated within the control element and being formed for axial movement through the control element and engagement with the storage container, the magnitude of the thrusting force of the plunger relative to the storage container being dependent upon the position of the carrier member along the control element.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the drive wheel is adapted to be electronically regulated to control the thrusting motion of the plunger.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a drive motor in communication with the drive wheel.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the drive motor is formed to operate with substantially constant drive power.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the drive motor is formed to operate with a substantially constant rate of revolution.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the control element includes a transport spiral that is driven by the drive wheel for rotation about its longitudinal axis.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the longitudinal axis of the spiral extends in the direction of thrusting motion of the plunger.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the pitch of the transport spiral is constant.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the pitch of the transport spiral changes along its helically shaped windings in correspondence to a desired thrusting force-position dependence for the plunger.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the control element comprises a cylindrical drum controller having a groove in its outer surface and the carrier member comprises a tendon block engaging into the groove.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the control element comprises a cylindrical helically wound transport spiral and the carrier element is configured as a carrier pin engaging into the windings of the transport spiral.

12. A device for removing a consumable analytic product from a storage container, the device comprising

a drive wheel,

a transport spiral formed for rotation with the drive wheel,

a carrier member in engagement with and formed for axial movement along the transport spiral, and

a plunger extending through the transport spiral and formed engagement with the storage container, the magnitude of the thrusting force of the plunger relative to the storage container being dependent upon the position of the carrier member along the transport spiral.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the drive wheel is adapted to be electronically regulated to control the thrusting motion of the plunger.

14. The device of claim 12 further comprising a drive motor in communication with the drive wheel.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the drive motor is formed to operate with substantially constant drive power.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the drive motor is formed to operate with a substantially constant rate of revolution.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein the pitch of the transport spiral is constant.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein the pitch of the transport spiral changes along its helically shaped windings in correspondence to a desired thrusting force-position dependence for the plunger.

19. A device for removing a consumable analytic product from a storage container, the device comprising

a drive wheel,

a control element coupled to and formed for rotation with the drive wheel, the control element including a transport spiral,

a carrier member in engagement with and formed for axial movement along the transport spiral, and

a plunger extending through the transport spiral and drive wheel, the plunger being formed engagement with the storage container, the magnitude of the thrusting force of the plunger relative to the storage container being dependent upon the position of the carrier member along the transport spiral.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the drive wheel is adapted to be electronically regulated to control the thrusting motion of the plunger.

21. The device of claim 19 further comprising a drive motor in communication with the drive wheel and formed to operate with substantially constant drive power.

22. The device of claim 19 further comprising a drive motor in communication with the drive wheel and formed to operate with a substantially constant rate of revolution.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein the pitch of the transport spiral is constant.

24. The device of claim 19 wherein the pitch of the transport spiral changes along its helically shaped windings in correspondence to a desired thrusting force-position dependence for the plunger.